TGU accuses councils of resisting negotiation

The
Transport and General Workers’ Union says New Labour hardliners in the North
West are the main barrier to justice on pay.

Jack
Dromey, T&G national organiser, will today tell a conference of T&G
shop stewards in Manchester that North West Labour councils have vetoed moves
to avoid the first national strike in local government for 23 years, and he
will accuse the region’s Labour councils of resisting moves for a negotiated
settlement.

Dromey
said the North West Labour councils insisted on imposing a pay deal of 3 per
cent – the lowest in the public sector – on the North West’s 288,000 local
government employees. Dromey said one leading Tory councillor has described the
councils concerned as trying to "out-Thatcher Thatcher."

Dromey
said: "I find it sad that Labour councils want to fight their employees
rather than fight low pay and injustice.

"Our
members have had enough. They care but are not cared for by their employers.
All they want is fair pay, better treatment and, quite simply, respect from
their managers and ministers.

Today
ballot forms for industrial action are to go out to tens of thousands of
members.